YLDHPRA4 Teaching practice, 4th period Course description

The programme consists of five compulsory courses:

STRÅL6010 – Scientific Subjects and Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy The course covers basic knowledge of radiotherapy: clinical physics, dosimetry, knowledge of equipment/machines and quality assurance.

STRÅL6020 – Oncology and Cancer Care The course covers general and specific oncology, and communication with and care for cancer patients, with special emphasis on the care needs that arise during radiotherapy.

STRÅLPRA – Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy The course consists of two periods of clinical training (STRÅLPRA-101 and STRÅLPRA-102) and covers treatment planning, performance and quality assurance of radiotherapy, as well as patient care.

STRÅL6110 – Radiobiology and Treatment Planning in RadiotherapyThe course covers treatment plans, treatment planning, assessment of radiobiological effects and quality assurance in radiotherapy.

STRÅL6300 – Protons in Radiotherapy The course covers the physical, biological and technical aspects that form the basis for proton therapy.

The courses build on each other with increasing requirements for knowledge and understanding of radiography. All courses conclude in a final assessment/exam.

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following provisions on progress apply to the study programme:

• Students must have passed STRÅL6010 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6020.
• Students must have passed STRÅL6020 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6110.
• STRÅL6020 and the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-101 must be approved before the student can start the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-102.
• Students must have passed STRÅL6110 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6300.

Required coursework is all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the assessment/exam and/or complete periods of clinical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the respective course descriptions.

The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance and project assignments.

Compulsory attendanceThe minimum attendance requirement for the introduction to the study programme, skills training, lab exercises, seminars and scheduled group and project work is 80 per cent. Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements, to ensure that the students achieve sufficient competence and skills of vital importance to patient safety. The course descriptions describe the compulsory attendance requirements that apply to each course.

See the information under ‘Assessment and grading’ for information about compulsory attendance during clinical training.

If a student exceeds the maximum absence limit, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible for the student to compensate for the absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example by submitting individual written assignments or presentations. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence, the student must take the course the next time it is taught. Whether or not this is possible depends on the extent of the student’s absence and which activities he/she has missed.

Project assignmentsIn the courses STRÅL6010 and STRÅLPRA, the students will carry out project assignments relating to scientific subjects, treatment planning, care and quality assurance in radiotherapy.

Project assignments that are not approved must be reworked before re-submission.

If the project assignment for STRÅL6010 is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam in the course. The student is entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If the assignment is not approved after three attempts, the student must take the course the next time it is taught. Project assignments in the course STRÅLPRA must be approved before the final assessment in STRÅLPRA-102. Students have up to three attempts to have the assignments approved. If the assignment is not approved after three attempts, the student will not receive a final assessment and must take the course the next time it is taught.

The programme’s learning outcomes cover a broad spectrum. This requires varied and complex work and teaching methods in order to support students’ learning process. The work methods promote learning processes that build on the students’ own activity and responsibility for their own learning. Students are expected to use problem-solving work methods and develop their ability to work both in groups and independently. A good learning outcome is first and foremost dependent on the students’ own effort. This applies both to benefiting from teaching and academic supervision and to independent work in the form of theoretical studies and practical skills training. Independent work includes both cooperation with fellow students and individual work.

The following work and teaching methods are used in the course: lectures, digital learning resources, seminars, skills training, lab exercises, clinical training, self-study, project work and other independent or group assignments. The students may also be taken on excursions.

The students will receive regular supervision and feedback throughout the study period, both in connection with theoretical tuition, written assignments and clinical training.

LecturesLectures will primarily be used to introduce important subject matter. The purpose of the lectures is to highlight connections and main elements in topics, and to communicate relevant issues. The theory lectures will mainly take place at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) – the Norwegian Radium Hospital, or through the use of digital learning resources.

Seminars Seminars are used to focus on a specific topic and require active participation by the students. The seminars are led by the course lecturer and are a forum for discussing and communicating issues in the field of radiography. Seminars normally require advance preparation, which can be done using digital resources, academic texts, articles and interactive assignments.

Written assignments The students will work continuously throughout the study period on written reports and project assignments, individually and in groups. Presentations in plenary sessions to fellow students, lecturers and others may also be relevant. The work will give the students experience of presenting their own knowledge, experience and opinions, in writing and orally. Students will receive feedback on their written assignments from the supervisor and/or fellow students.

Skills training and lab exercisesSkills training and lab exercises take place in smaller groups. In clinical practice in radiotherapy, skills training will take place in different modalities where the students acquire skills through clinical training and reflection. In clinical physics and dosimetry, lab exercises will be carried out and tuition will be provided in how to conduct different measurements and calculations.

Clinical training ensures that the students participate in real-life activities that provide insight into and experience of issues that arise in a radiotherapist’s area of work. The students will be given an opportunity to test, process and develop knowledge obtained through other work methods.

Clinical training will take place in the course STRÅLPRA Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy, worth 15 credits. The students will undergo placements for the purpose of developing new knowledge, skills and general competence through direct contact with the professional field. Based on theory and experience gained earlier in the study programme, the students will immerse themselves in theoretical and practical knowledge that is important in the professional field.

Clinical training can take place at any one of the radiotherapy centres in Norway. Students may be assigned placements outside Oslo. Reference is made to the course description for STRÅLPRA for more information about the organisation and content of the clinical training.

The literature used in the study programme will mainly be international specialist and research literature in English. Clinical training may be conducted abroad by arrangement. The study programme will facilitate international guest lectures.